Question about PMR and Fibromyalgia.

[Buenavista]

Afternoon guys,

Getting lots of vitamin D at the moment in Spain.

I have a friend staying with me at the moment and she has Fybromialgia, but she has all the same symptoms as me and I have PMR. She has had it for 15 years, since the age of 35. She works 3 days a week until 5pm, then her body shuts down exhausted. Her doctor gives her only pain killers.

2 questions please, what is the difference between PMR and Fybromialgia. Secondly, is there anything out there now which would help her better than just pain killers?

Best regards

Buenavista

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

A paper showing a comparison between PMR and Fibromyalgia was produced some time ago by one of the trustees of PMRGCAuk together with a member of the Fibromyalgia Association UK. The following is an extract:

Polymyalgia

Affects people over 50 years

An inflammatory condition

Symptoms of severe pain, stiffness and tiredness

Can be accompanied by inflammation of the arteries

Treatable with steroids

Responds well to treatment

Many side effects of steroid treatment

Good prognosis-generally lasts 2-3 years

Fibromyalgia

Affects people of any age

An abnormal pain processing condition

Symptoms of widespread chronic pain, persistent fatigue and non-refreshing sleep

Many associated symptoms including cognitive dysfunction, IBS and anxiety

Treated with analgesic painkillers, low-dose antidepressants and lifestyle changes

Treatment response is variable

Variable prognosis-symptoms can improve but can last many years

[polkadotcom]

Celtic is quite right and the main difference between the two is that steroids have no effect whatsoever on Fibromyalgia.

I have both (PMR and Fibro along with several other medical conditions) and I am being treated reasonably successfully with low-dose amitriptyline (which is in fact an antidepressant when used in larger doses) and low dose Gabapentin which is an anti-epilepsy drug. I also have some nerve damage and both of those help with the nerve pain too. I do have high powered painkillers available, but take as few of those as I can get away with. I find distraction techniques help a lot with background pain from the Fibro and it may be worth her asking her GP if any or all of this would help her.

[missrat]

There is a possibility that I may have both PMR and fibromyalgia. I tend to react badly to gabapentin unless the dose is very low.

[Buenavista]

Hi all,

Just a quick thank you for your replies to my question. Much appreciated, I'll pass on the information.

Also, I'm still doing well with the reduction in pred, 1/2mg every month and down to 7mg now.

Regards

Buenavista